Houston woman sentenced for defrauding Catholic mission

HOUSTON (AP) - A 38-year-old Houston woman has been sentenced to 41 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to defrauding more than $1.1 million from a Catholic mission that supports schools in Mexico and Colombia.

U.S. District Judge Nancy Atlas also placed Rosina Blanco on probation for three years following her prison term and ordered her Monday to repay the more than $1.1 million as restitution.

Prosecutors say Blanco worked as a bookkeeper for the Basilian Father's Missions of the Catholic Church, based in Sugar Land in suburban Houston, and fraudulently authorized electronic transfers from the mission account to accounts in her name. Evidence showed she used the money for jewelry, furniture, luxury items and cars, real estate and services for her dog.

Blanco was in custody pending her federal prison assignment.

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